Adoption workshop in Texas

For those of you in Texas that read my blog and might be interested in a great adoption seminar and workshop this is one to look into:


Adoption Ministry Mini-Workshop & Seminar
Connecting resources with East Texas churches
www.purereligionjames127.com
Pure Religion will host an event focused on better understanding the needs and processes involved with adoption, orphans and children living in the foster care system. This free mini-workshop/seminar is designed for enhancing the lives of these children through churches. Not everyone is equipped to foster/adopt, but everyone can help. The workshop will include complimentary coffee, snacks and literature.

Saturday, April 26th from 9:00am to 12:00 pm (We're anticipating 300 guests so come early for a good seat.)

Colonial Hills Baptist Church. 7330 S Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75703 (All denominations will be present.)

Michael & Amy Monroe, leaders of Tapestry at Irving Bible Church, will be leading the seminar. Their insight into an already successful church adoption ministry in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area is extraordinary. About Tapestry : "From the time this community began in 2000, we have focused on helping children and families as they travel the adoption or foster care journey. While all who have been touched by the miracle of adoption share a common bond, each journey is unique and presents its own joys and challenges" www.tapestry.irvingbible.org

Session A (9:30 to 10:45 pm):
Exploring the Possibilities - A Discussion About Domestic and International Adoption and Foster Care Ministry in Your Church. Facts, statistics, benefits & available resources. (Michael & Amy Monroe, Tapestry/Irving Bible Church) Designed as an interactive discussion about how some churches are living out God's heart for the fatherless in the adoption/foster care ministry areas.

Session B (11:00 to 11:50 pm):
Breakout B-1: What, Who, Where, When and How - Starting an Adoption/Orphan Care Ministry in Your Church ~Designed for churches that are just beginning to consider how to start a domestic or international ministry.
Breakout B-2: Practical Ideas and Resources for Adoption and Foster Care Ministry in Your Church (Michael & Amy Monroe, Tapestry) Designed for churches that are just beginning to start or have already begun an adoption or foster care ministry.

GRAND OPENING::::::

Pure Religion, JAMES 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.






A Project of East Texas Heart Gallery

Pure Religion, JAMES 1:27 will be on display marking the grand opening of this faith based recruitment effort. Heart Gallery has created a unique traveling exhibit that is designed explicitly for churches. Heart Gallery designs a maximum 3-week tour, a speaking schedule, materials for bulletins and/or hand-outs and a follow-up meeting for interested congregants specifically for each church. The ease and beauty of this exhibit make it the perfect system for a congregation to learn about the needs of these orphans. Pure Religion bookings will be taken at the workshop. (You do not have to start a ministry to book Pure Religion at your church.) www.PureReligionJames127.com

Available resources include: Many, many helpful volunteers, Azleway, Tapestry, Faith Connection, Mission Tyler, (CASA) Court Appointed Special Advocates, CPS Community Partners, Child Welfare Boards, Family Court Judges, United Way, Heart Gallery, Council on Adoptable Children, Foster Parent's Associations of East Texas, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Texas Baptist Home for Children and Forgotten Children's Orphan Ministries.

This will also be a great opportunity to meet and connect with resources as well as others in East Texas that are already involved in orphan ministry. Please e-mail the names, church/organization and your specific seminar interests to: PureReligion127@gmail.com or call 903-521-4570 (Denice Grugle) Invite anyone who would benefit.

Sandy Stuck & Denice Grugle - Volunteers

Mrs. Arkansas International Pageants

For those considering Adoption...

If any of you in the So. Cal area are interested in an adoption workshop the following may be of interest to you.

FamilyLife's If You Were Mine provides a relaxed, non-threatening environment where you can consider practical information about adoption from an objective and biblical point of view.

Find answers to questions such as:

* Is adoption for us?
* How does the adoption process work?
* How do we choose an agency that's right for us?
* Can I really love an adopted child?
* Can we afford adoption?

Join us Saturday, April 19, 2008, at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA from 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $20 per person.

To register, go online now or call 1-800-FL-TODAY (1-800-358-6329).

An outstanding workshop for any couple considering adoption. FamilyLife's If You Were Mine adoption workshop offers practical, biblical information to help couples overcome the misconceptions and fears about adoption.
-- Steven Curtis Chapman, Christian Recording Artist

Mrs. Idaho International Pageant

I had the opportunity to judge the Teen/Miss/Mrs. Idaho pageants this March. While it was nice to sit on the "other side" of the stage, I have to admit it is really difficult to judge! Autumn put on a wonderful pageant and we judges we're treated in true style. It was great to see Vicki again, Mrs. Idaho Int'l...just two days before the pageant her ear drum ruptured but she was such a trooper and made it to the events without anyone being able to detect anything was wrong. I also spent some time visiting the Children's Hospital and signing autographs for the kids. Talk about troopers, even though some of them were very ill they still put on smiles for me when I came in to visit.

Lakewood Mall Heart Gallery

On Feb. 9th the Lakewood Mall hosted the Los Angeles Heart Gallery. It was a great event complete with the gallery, Jazz Angels, 94.7 the Wave Hosts, a booth for children to make Valentines for our Foster children and vendors giving out free stuff from CPK, Helen Grace, etc...I helped organize the event with Stephanie the director of Heart Gallery and we both spoke along with several Foster families that adopted. CNN reporter Ron Roberson came and covered the event and also had me on his radio program the week prior to advertise the event. The gallery remained up in the mall for the next few weeks and was a great success!

Happy Easter

He is risen!! He is risen indeed - May you and your family have a blessed Easter.

Go Red for Women - Minnesota

I'm lucky enough these days to post pics..more info about this event to come...